Drama

GCSE Drama

Students can also study GCSE Drama which focuses upon developing a breadth of subject knowledge within the performance strategies, mediums and elements of drama, as well as developing students understanding and interpretation of topics, scripts, characters and performance appreciation skills.

GCSE Drama will engage students through the use of their vivid imaginations, focus on practical work which reflects modern theatre and develop skills that will support progression to further study drama and a wide range of other subjects. The qualification has three components, one that focuses on devising, one that focuses on performing in or designing for a performance from a text and one that focuses on practical understanding of a performance text. Students will be assessed through a combination of internal moderation, live examiner marking and external marking of their written paper. The GCSE Drama components are as follows:

Component One: Devising – Students will create and develop a devised piece from a stimulus. They will analyse and evaluate the devising process and performance through the development of a written and/or oral portfolio of between 1500-2000 words.

Component Two: Performance from Text – Students will either perform in and/or design for two key extracts from a play that will be presented to an external examiner.

Component Three: Theatre Makers in Practice (Written Paper) – Students will complete a 1 hour 45 mins written paper based on a play they have studied and a theatre production they have watched.

With Cultural Capital Opportunities:

2018-2019

• Backstage tour at Birmingham Rep
• Splendid’s Dr Faustus at St Michael’s School  
• English and Drama Cross Curricular Blood Brothers, Birmingham Hippodrome
• National Youth Theatre auditions

BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts

The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts is for students who want to acquire applied knowledge and skills through vocational contexts by studying professionals’ work and processes used, the skills and techniques used in different roles, and how to contribute to the creation of a performance in either a performance or non-performance role as part of their Key Stage 4 learning.

Component 1: Internally Assessed   
This component provides students with a broad experience of the performing arts within the role of an actor or designer.  Students will have the opportunity to watch at least three theatrical performances and develop insight into what it means to be a professional performer.  They will produce a portfolio of work to show an understanding of different practitioner approaches that have been explored through practical workshops. 

Component 2: Internally Assessed
This component focuses on the application of skills and techniques used within theatre.  Students wiill develop their engagement with scripts to prepare and perform a performance based on their insight into different styles and approaches demonstrated within professional works.  They will work closely together to provide feedback to one another and make changes based on how they can improve. 

Component 3: Externally Assessed
This component provides learners with the opportunity to use the knowledge, skills and techniques they have harnessed in components one and two to create an original devised performance in response to a brief and stimulus.  They will work in small groups to generate practical ideas and develop, rehearse and refine their devised piece that will be externally assessed.